Industry Focus for April is AEC. Check out interesting articles written by our members who would like to share their views.

>> Special issue of our Chamber News and updated news from the Australian Embassy>> Current issues focused on what’s happening in Thailand

Check out the 3 Questions interview video with our venue sponsor for March Sundowners, MeinhardtandInterview video with our venue sponsor for ESB Sundowners, Ocean Marina Yacht Club. Not to mention, a video from Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre: ANZAC Day

Starting April with Evening talk on Architecture Foundation Australia by Australian Embassy Bangkok followed by ASEAN Sundowners and AustCham Member Briefing. Not to mention, a historical memorial day, ANZAC day 2018.

Well the year is really moving on with Songkran just around the corner. I hope that you have had a great first quarter and that the rest of the year bodes well for you and your businesses. Your chamber has been rather busy during March with Sundowners events on the Eastern Seaboard and Phuket, plus a roundtable with our Manufacturing committee, and of course our Annual General Meeting held on March 7. We had one of the largest turn outs for voting at the AGM with 9 candidates standing for 6 positions, indicating a renewed vibrancy and engagement with the chamber by members. To the new board, I welcome you and look forward to working with you and your committees over the next year. To those who were unsuccessful, I hope you will work with some of our committees. With that in mind, I am keen to encourage more members to engage with the chamber and offer their insights and experience by contributing to one (or more) of our committees. If you have an interest in a particular area such as hospitality, alumni and education, advocacy, events management etc. then please do contact us. It is a key objective to have more of our members working with chamber directors to further these and other areas of interest for our members.

A highlight during March was the focus on the ASEAN-Australia Business Summit held in Sydney. Our Vice President, Charles Wrightman, attended several of the events representing AustCham Thailand and AustCham-ASEAN and, by all accounts,our contributions were very well received. Of particular note was the publication of the regional business survey to which AustCham members contributed. If you have not had a chance to look at the survey I do recommend you see it in the Chamber News below where the document can be found. You will note that the challenges we face in Thailand differ somewhat from other ASEAN members; it makes for an interesting read.

If the topic of Australia-ASEAN relations is of interest then I recommend you attend the next AustCham briefing to be held prior to the April Sundowners on April 4, 17:00 at Pullman G Hotel. We will be honoured to have H.E. Paul Robilliard provide a debrief on the ASEAN-Australia Business Summit, as well as Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels Group, provide insights as to why that Thailand-based company has invested in Australia, and Jock Tulloch, General Manager of Beston Global Foods on their ASEAN opportunities. This will be followed by a panel discussion providing further insights as to the business engagement between ASEAN and Australia.Thanks for the briefing must go to Susan Kahwati from Austrade and Khun Laddawan Tantisantiwong from the Department of State Development, South Australia, who have both assisted in preparing the members’ briefing.

Looking further into April, AustCham will again support those wishing to attend the ANZAC memorial services at Kanchanaburi on April 25. If you haven't been to the ANZAC day services – dawn and 11 am – I strongly recommend that you make the effort. It is a truly humbling experience and one that will stay with you. The day will also see the arrival of an Australian navy ship, and two of the Diggers who endured the hardships of Hellfire Pass will be attending the services. If you want to attend please contact the Chamber; we will provide information and arrange travel and accommodation as needed. I hope to see you there.

April also sees in the Thai New Year, Songkran – we at the chamber wish you all a pleasant break from work. But it is also a dangerous time on the roads in Thailand, so do be aware that it may just be a little more 'hectic' than normal.

With the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrating its 50th anniversary, James Evans looks at whether the region’s logistics infrastructure is ready for the anticipated population and economic growth, and how the logistics industry can help to connect countries, improve safety and make it easier to access to markets in the newly-formed ASEAN Economic Community....

Australian firms are confident about their future in ASEAN with 87% of respondents planning to increase their presence in ASEAN! The AustCham ASEAN Australian Business in ASEAN Survey – Special Summit Edition 2018, launched by Australian Minister the Hon Steven Ciobo MP, provides an indepth analysis of Australian business sentiment in ASEAN...

On Friday 30th March, AustCham’s Customs sub-committee met with Khun Kulit Sombatsiri, Director General of the Customs Department, and his team to discuss the new Customs laws and next round of the Customs Alliance...

Thailand’s women’s under-19s football team (known as Chaba Kaew U19) will be ASEAN’s representative in a match against Australian under-20s women’s national football team, the Young Matildas, on 16 March in Sydney ahead of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit...

Australia and the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will work together to shape a more secure and prosperous region.Our joint statement from the Special Summit – The Sydney Declaration – sets out a clear vision for the future of the ASEAN-Australia partnership and our shared commitment to elevate our cooperation...

The Australian Alumni Awards celebrate and showcase the achievements of Alumni members who have applied their Australian education in their professional endeavours in Thailand. Alumni can apply themselves, or be nominated by anyone, including their Australian higher education institution...

Questex Hospitality Group, a powerhouse international conference producer, will stage the much anticipated return of Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference (APHIC), on 4-6 Jun 2018. The three-day event will be held at the JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, Thailand...

Hotel Management Thailand Summit (HMT), the region’s leading hotel industry conference produced by international conference producer Questex Hospitality Group, is set to return to Bangkok on 7 June 2018. Over 150 international senior hoteliers will gather to discuss on how to generate revenue and boost operational efficiency to thrive...

The Consular Corps of Northern Thailand, including the Australian Consulate, has been asked by the Governor of Chiang Mai Province to participate in a World Fair. This event is a joint venture between the Governor and consular missions based in Northern Thailand to strengthen links between the people and the world community...

New Member - Mr. Robert McLellan, Production Solutions (Thailand) Ltd.

**A profile of the member is disclosed due to privacy**

New Member - Bangkok International Associates Limited

Bangkok International Associates was founded in 1988 as the Thailand branch office of Australian law firm Freehills.In 1991, Ronald J. Cristal (Ronachai Krisadaolarn) took over the business as managing director, a position that he still holds today...

From feasibility, planning and advice to project management and execution expertise, we’re a full-service business with a fully collaborative way of working.In fact, collaboration has been at the heart of our business, both internally and with our clients throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia for over 40 years...

TCC Hotel Collection Co., Ltd is operating Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, a five-star hotel combining luxury amenities and facilities.The property is located on bustling Surawongse Road, considered to be the heart of old Bangkok, and offers a variety of unique amenities for a distinctive Bangkok experience...